Before leaving for two weeks of recess, the House last week approved a military authorization bill and an extension of the Violence Against Women Act, adding an immigration provision that creates a new standoff with the Senate. The Senate cleared an export subsidy program renewal. This week, senators will debate extending the Food and Drug Administration’s prescription-drug user fee. An Iran sanctions bill could also reach the floor. At week’s end, Senators will leave town for Memorial Day, returning June 4. Representatives return May 30th.

While a new immigration standoff was being created, a bipartisan compromise appeared possible to end the impasse over how to pay for a one-year extension of the current 3.4 percent student loan interest rate. Staff working on the highway legislation conference made small progress toward what could become a sweeping bipartisan agreement on transportation policy and revenue later this summer.

To no one’s surprise, House Speaker John Boehner said last week that he would hold a future debt ceiling increase hostage to spending cuts of more than the amount of increased debt. In doing so, Speaker Boehner initiated second round of last year’s confrontation that resulted in the first downgrade of U.S. debt in history.

(Facebook photo)

Polling in the presidential campaign continues to show results within the margin of error, with President Obama leading Mitt Romney 48 to 46 percent. At the Electoral College level, President Obama’s reelection is slightly more likely than his national polling indicates, although Governor Romney’s numbers should improve as he recovers from his primary scars.

In Congress, the only certainty is that majorities next year will be more narrow, with the odds favoring a continued Republican majority in the House and Senate control closer to a tossup, perhaps turning on with which party Maine independent and general election favorite Angus King caucuses.

There will be no Update next Sunday night as your Updater will be in the wilderness of Arizona without Email, phone, computer or Internet. Your Updates will resume June 4.